Curraghchase Forest Park 4.76

Curraghchase is a 774acre forest park located in County Limerick. It is 20 km from the city of Limerick, between the towns of Adare and Askeaton. The land was the Hunt/de Vere family estate for 300 years (1657–1957), including the period of the de Vere baronets, also serving as the home of renowned poet and critic Aubrey Thomas De Vere.ArchaeologyIn the park area there are 8 classified sites; 1 cairn, 2 enclosures, 3 ringforts, 1 standing stone and the 18th century house probably built on the site of Curragh Castle which is mentioned in Desmond Roll.EnvironmentThe park consists of mainly broadleaf and mixed woodland with some mature conifer stands, parkland with some of the area under water. The woods occur on low limestone ridges. Conservation of rare Yew core area has also been ongoing together with other conservation initiatives including the development of a new Summer Bat Roost area for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.HistoryCurragh House was built in 1657 by Vere Hunt, an officer in Oliver Cromwell's army and a descendant of the Earl of Oxford, who traced their lineage to Aubrey de Vere I, a tenant-in-chief in England of William the Conqueror in 1086. Hunt was granted the land, which consisted of 380acre originally owned by John Fitzgerald, as one of the Cromwellian plantations.